AIM

For students to know about the war for water in Cochabamba and learn the effects that water privatisation can have on the population.

MATERIALS

Video in Spanish: https://elpais.com/elpais/2015/07/31/videos/1438361239_647173.html

Video in English: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn9wujK0ho4

LINKS TO THE CURRICULUM

Junior Cycle: Strand 1. Communicative Competence, linked to 1.1, 1.4

Senior Cycle: II. Language awareness 2 and III. Cultural awareness, 3, 5

METHODOLOGY

Play one of the videos (one in Spanish and one in English) and ask the students to answer the questions.

  • When did the Water War happen in Cochabamba?
  • What was the outcome of the war?
  • Why is water so important to us?
  • Do you see any similarities with this case and Ireland?

Following on from the video, you could ask the students to debate about the pros and cons of privatisation of water. Ask students to form 2 teams and find arguments for and against privatisation of water, and then discuss.

They could write a couple of sentences in Spanish (Estoy a favor de la privatización del agua porque el gobierno no tiene recursos suficientes).

PRACTISE YOUR SPANISH…

  • You can show the video in Spanish or English.
  • Students could summarise the video in Spanish through a couple of sentences.

ADDITIONAL VIDEOS

CONNECTIONS WITH IRELAND AND TAKING ACTION

The United Nations Recognizes the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life and all human rights (UN Resolution 64/292, July 2010).

People in Ireland have mobilised in the recent years against water charges, and conflicts for the right to water are taking place in many countries. Invite your students to visit the Write2Water webpage (www.right2water.ie/) and find out about the campaign in Ireland.